Where Are The Next Drag Racers
Coming From?
By Glen Grissom
“Jeez!” You’re probably thinking, “here comes another hand-wringing, the sky-is-falling screed (from Grissom this time) about the general decline of Western Civilization as we know it because drag racing hasn’t enjoyed the phenomenal growth of NASCAR/stock car racing.”
I think the public’s interest in NASCAR at the top ranks is leveling off, and maybe even backing off in the U.S. – if you use the declining 2006 TV ratings of Nextel Cup as a measure, and that parent company ISC was stopped in its tracks, and has just decided to give up trying to put in a speedway on the almost 700 acres it owns on Staten Island. That is a big thumpin’ to its marketing expansion into the New York mega-media and mega-population area no matter how the PR is spun.
Despite all that, NASCAR and stock car racing is sucking up most of the interest and talent in the young racing ranks in the U.S. (NASCAR should give Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick a royalty check for all the money and talent and sponsors they awakened and brought into that sport.)
The drag racing equivalent is John Force, but he can’t continue to do it by himself in this sport.
[Aside: I give major props to him and his team, and I write the next with full respect and admiration – the guy is a drag racing dinosaur, Methusula on nitro for cryin’ out loud, and he wins another title!? What is this sport going to do when he finally does get out of the seat?]
Maybe it’s because I live in the center of Fanatic Central for NASCAR (North Carolina) that I get this talent-moving tide vibe. There are short tracks all over the place, and even though some are struggling, there is a track network nationwide in place to develop young stock car driving talent – and very importantly get it noticed by upper echelon team owners.
Where is this happening in drag racing? Truthfully, I don’t see it, and John Q. Public doesn’t hear about it. Sure, there is Jr. Dragster, and the Divisional ranks, but where are the success stories of young people moving up the drag racing food chain? Note that Tim McCreadie recently signed a development deal with Richard Childress Racing, and the stockers are even bringing some old-guard, but capable and exciting drivers, like Juan Montoya, into the roundy-round ranks.
If you’re the average performance enthusiast, what equivalent is happening in Pro drag racing? Ashley Force moving up into Funny Car? Jeg Coughlin coming back to the Pro ranks? That guy can drive anything – he’ll bring some excitement with him no doubt. Where is the next Jeff Gordon of drag racing? The guy that can bring the car owners, and money and sponsors to straightlining.
Let’s drop down into the Saturday night racer ranks – do we really have a new generation of drag racers coming up? How do we get them off their video consoles and on a drag track?
I see this firsthand. My son is 15 and because of my jobs, he has been around performance cars and racing and computers all his life. He now has his driving learner’s permit, and will get his full license next year. He also has an older friend who has a hopped up streetable Mustang GT, and with our full support he tags along to the local 1/8th mile for Test & Tune nights.
He sees up close and personal how much fun (and work) his friend has dusting off other rides; the other crazy match-ups that happen at T&T races (turbo’d diesel trucks running stupid-boost and beating motorcycles); and how every paycheck his friend makes goes into gas, tires (and a new clutch).
Yet, gaming online with web-buds (“CounterStrike” and “Halo” are our drag racing enemy!) is one of his first choices for spending spare time. Much less expensive and plenty visceral – he is exhibit A for how modern online video games are basically digital heroin.
But I have the beginning ideas of a permanent cure besides pulling the plug (which has been done and works for a while). I’m thinking I should start looking for a small-block ride to be my next car. One that I can start involving him in its performance tuning. Maybe an ex-NC Highway Patrol Chevy Caprice with its tank-like body (you know he’ll knock a corner panel in during his first year of a full license, it is a law of nature) and beefy V8 waiting for upgrades, etc.
Wonder how much boost it would take to whip a motorcycle…
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